Labor Laws & Money Blog

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its Mine Safety and Health Administration is making $10.5 million in grant funding available to help states provide mine safety training for the nation’s miners.“Through our ongoing commitment to safety training, we achieved a historically low all-injury rate for mining last year. This latest investment demonstrates that we’re doubling down on our efforts to protect our nation’s hardworking miners,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “The Department of Labor will continue to put American miners first by keeping them safe on the job, which will help advance President Trump’s mission to bolster domestic mineral production.”MSHA will award these grants as part of its fiscal year 2026 State Grants Program to fund the delivery of federally mandated training and re-training for miners who work at surface, underground coal, and metal and non-metal mines throughout the U.S.State, tribal, and territorial governments are eligible to apply. MSHA may fund up to 80% of the program costs under a state grant. The grant recipient is required to provide at least 20% of the total program costs.MSHA recognizes state training programs are a key source of mine safety, health training, and education. The agency encourages state programs to use grant funds to prioritize training assistance for new and small mining operations, as well as to support a state’s broader health and safety training programs. MSHA also recommends that grantees develop or create training compliance assistance programs to assist operators who are extracting critical minerals, including coal, to support the President’s goal of increasing the discovery and mining of critical minerals. The agency also emphasizes training on miners’ statutory rights under the Mine Safety and Health Act.Grant applications must be submitted by Aug. 10, 2026, and will be awarded on or before Sept. 30, 2026.View 2026 State Grants Program funding opportunity.Learn more about MSHA. 

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the May 2026 Employment Situation Report:“President Trump and this Administration once again produced the best month of job creation since taking office, demolishing economists’ expectations. This Administration is proving the cynics wrong and American workers, families, and businesses are winning.The May Jobs Report overperformed on every level, adding 172,000 jobs and marking the third consecutive month of positive payroll growth. Thanks to President Trump, manufacturing jobs are up 25,000 in 2026 and construction jobs have increased by 71,000 since he took office – a true testament to this Administration’s priorities.Under the President’s leadership, American workers are seeing benefits in real time: rising wages, increased affordability, and over 903,000 private sector jobs added. The Department of Labor remains committed to advancing a bold, pro-worker agenda and will continue delivering for the American people.” 

In the week ending May 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 225,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 3,000 from 215,000 to 212,000. The 4-week moving average was 214,750, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 750 from 209,000 to 208,250.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Bowden Piggly Wiggly supermarket franchisee for safety violations after a meat department worker suffered an amputation. The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that on Jan. 29, 2026, RBG Foods Inc. – operating as Piggly Wiggly – tasked the worker with cleaning a commercial grinder. A co-worker stepped on the machine’s foot-control pedal which started the grinder, pulling in the employee’s hand and causing the amputation of four fingers.OSHA cited the employer with a willful violation for bypassing the machine’s safety guards and exposing workers to hazards like moving parts and flying debris. The employer was also issued a serious violation for failing to establish a program for the control of hazardous energy, and an other-than-serious violation for failing to report the amputation to OSHA within 24 hours of the incident.OSHA assessed $196,251 in proposed penalties.The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Please check the OSHA establishment search page periodically for any changes in the inspection or penalty status. Learn more about OSHA, including how to control hazardous energy, lockout/tagout. In addition, employers can contact the agency for free compliance assistance and resources.

WASHINGTON – As the 2026 World Cup approaches and employers across 11 U.S. host cities prepare to serve thousands of soccer fans, the U.S. Department of Labor is offering federal labor law compliance resources to help employers avoid wage and hour violations during this busy time.Available resources include a compliance assistance website, a video series on the Family and Medical Leave Act, and revamped compliance assistance toolkits for restaurant, hotel, and other industries that anticipate serving World Cup fans.“As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the World Cup presents an excellent opportunity for businesses and workers to welcome fans from all over the world,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “The Department of Labor is here to support employers in each of the U.S. cities hosting World Cup games. Employers and their representatives can and should take advantage of the many free resources we provide to ensure workers receive all they are owed and that their businesses compete on a level playing field.”Employers who identify potential minimum wage, overtime, or certain FMLA violations are encouraged to use the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program to correct mistakes and provide appropriate compensation and remedies for affected employees. The PAID program provides a roadmap for employers to comply with the law while avoiding costly and time-consuming litigation. Division outreach specialists are available in World Cup host cities to participate in events where businesses of all sizes can learn about the PAID program.Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division. Workers and employers can also call the division with questions or requests for compliance assistance at its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Download the agency’s free timesheet app for iOS and Android devices to track hours and pay.